Stephen Riess
Referenced in 2 episodes
Definition
German-born geochemist and mining engineer active in the U.S. from the 1920s until his death in 1985. He claimed to locate high-volume 'primary water' wells in hard rock across California and the Southwest.
Related episodes
#1022: Water Wars With Mark Burr
Tin Foil HatSep 16, 2026
Water-well locator Mark Burr explains the 'primary water' theory, the claim that fresh water is continually created deep inside the Earth rather than coming only from rain and the surface water cycle. He traces the idea to German-born geochemist Stephen Riess and dowser Vern Cameron, and argues that California's 1950s water politics, bankers, and scarcity-minded planners buried the concept. The conversation also wanders into chemtrails, peak oil as a manufactured fear, Brown's gas suppression, AI surveillance, and a claim that 'Phoenician' families wield hidden geopolitical power.
Mark Burr | Primary Water Wells, Hidden Abundance, & The Story Of Steve Riess
The Higherside ChatsJul 26, 2026
Geohydrologist Mark Burr argues that the looming global water crisis is manufactured, claiming the Earth continuously generates vast amounts of 'primary water' deep below the bedrock. He tells the story of German mining engineer Stephen Riess, who reportedly drilled 70 successful deep wells in 72 attempts in places experts called hopeless, only to face lawsuits, government dismissal, and opposition from a California water establishment invested in dams and aqueducts. Burr connects this alleged suppression to a broader 'scarcity spell' used by elites to control resources, and describes his own company's efforts to locate primary water worldwide.
